Lucun Village in Yi County | Not just a pretty sight, but also home to a 'top trend'

Just 2 kilometers away from Hongcun, Lucun was the first stop that revealed the beauty of Yi County to me. Despite its low profile, it is a treasure trove of a village with the charm of southern China's beauty and has secured a place for itself among the highly competitive ancient villages of Yi County by housing the 'Number One Wood Carving Building in China'. Originally named Zhishan Village, according to their clan records, the ancestors of the Lu family of Zhishan in Yi County were founding heroes of the Han Dynasty, including the Prince of Yan, Lu Ban. By the end of the Southern Tang Dynasty, their descendant Lu Xuan settled here to avoid the chaos of war, marking the start of over a thousand years of continuous history for the Lu family of Zhishan. Throughout the long years, Lucun has faced numerous wars and was once described as 'houses in ruins, tiles and bricks everywhere, and the living in dire straits', with only 'two or three out of ten survivors'. Yet, it has repeatedly risen from such calamities on the road to rejuvenation. The landscape and seasons here are touching, but perhaps the village's intangible charm lies in its resilient vitality that has thrived through blood and storm. Although Lucun no longer boasts its former glory, it remains a 'living' traditional Huizhou-style ancient village. With mountains as its backdrop and built around water, the village, facing south and backing north, is embraced by two intersecting streams that flow endlessly. The alleys in the village serve as a skeleton, connecting one old house to another, each telling its own story. The village has a thriving literary culture, with a preference for Confucianism, and is permeated with the influence of Huizhou culture, especially a wood carving building named 'Zhicheng Hall'. Its owner was the famously wealthy Qing Dynasty merchant Lu Bangxie, known as Lu Baiwan. It is said that in ancient times, because private residences could not surpass the imperial system, wealthy Huizhou merchants invested heavily in architectural decorations, leaving us with the exquisite skills of the 'Three Carvings of Huizhou'. The wood carving buildings in Lucun were built by Lu Baiwan for his six wives. It is said that it took twenty years for two exceptionally skilled craftsmen to complete them. Today, many of these techniques have been lost, but the remaining works still tell the stories of the 'unknown artists' who once created these masterpieces. You must take a close look; every carving is so interesting, with rich themes and full of meaning. The techniques include mixed carving, line carving, hidden carving, relief carving, and through carving, allowing one to fully appreciate the essence of Huizhou wood carving. Unfortunately, due to historical reasons, most of the faces in the wood carvings have been dug out, with only a few preserved thanks to the Lu family descendants who covered them with yellow mud. It was a near miss for this wood carving building to become an absolute gem. Before leaving the village, be sure to visit Lucun's viewing platform. Although it's not the most beautiful season, overlooking Lucun wrapped in greenery, you can still feel the village in the midst of spring's intoxicating revival. 📒 There may be an admission fee on holidays, and you can drive to the viewing platform. 🌟 There is a parking lot at the entrance of the village 🅿️